360 ODYSSEY • BOOK XXIV [342-

mine. Each ripened at a different time, so that the bunches on
them were at various stages when the branches felt their weight
under the summer skies/

Laertes realized at once that Odysseus' evidence had proved
his claim. With trembling knees and bursting heart he flung his
arms round the neck of his beloved son, and stalwart Odysseus
caught him fainting to his breast. The first words he uttered as
he rallied and his consciousness returned were in reply to the
news his son had given him. 'By Father Zeus,' he cried, 'you
gods are still in your heaven, if those Suitors have really paid the
price for their iniquitous presumption! But I have a horrible
fear now that the whole forces oflthaca will soon be on us here,
and that they will send urgent messages for help to every town
in Cephallenia/

'Have no fear,' said his resourceful son, 'and don't trouble
your head about that; but come with me to the farmhouse here
by the orchard, where I sent on Telemachus with the cowman
and swineherd to prepare a meal as quickly as they could/

Accordingly the pair set out for the house, and there in the
pleasant homestead they found Telemachus and the two herds-
men carving lavish portions of meat and mixing the sparkling
wine. The lord Laertes made use of his own house to have him-
self bathed, anointed, and decked out in a fine mantle by his
Sicilian maid-servant, and Athene herself intervened to increase
his royal stature. As he stepped out of the bath she made him
seem taller and sturdier than before, so that his own son was
amazed when he saw him looking like an immortal god. He
could not repress his astonishment.' Father!' he exclaimed.' I do
believe some god has made you handsomer and taller than
ever!' To which the wise old man replied: 'By Father Zeus,
Athene, and Apollo, if only I could have been the man I was
when as King of the Cephallenians I took the stronghold of
Nericus on the mainland cape, and could have stood by you
yesterday in our palace, clothed in mail, to help you beat those
rascals off 11 warrant I'd have brought them down in plenty and
delighted your heart!'